Elena and Haven sprinted down the corridor, urgency propelling them forward as they sought the quickest route to safety for the two vampire children on their backs. "Haven, which route do you recommend we take?" Elena asked, her breath coming in quick bursts.
"I think we should take the left, sis. If we head that way for a little further, we should reach the stairs that lead down to the escape route with the children," Haven replied decisively.
"I trust your judgment sister. Then let's go left."
With that, the two vampires raced down the corridor, carrying Adam and Carla. Haven had Adam slung over her back, while Elena supported Carla. "Hey, Carla, this isn't too fast for you, right?" Elena called back, but before the girl could respond, Adam shouted excitedly, "No, Miss Elena! Let's go faster! Faster!"
Elena exchanged a glance with Haven, and they both shared a fleeting smile. "Then let's pick up the pace!"
"Ahead of you, sis!" Haven responded, determination filling her voice.
The two-vampire started to pick up the pace. They would also pass a lot of corpses of vampires and the human mercenaries and as they were running to their destination, they could sometimes feel like the castle shaking as a result of the high intensity battles taking place.
Haven's heart raced as she noticed they were almost at the stairs leading down through the castle. "We're almost there, kids!" she called back, encouragingly.
"Thank you, Miss Haven! We're really grateful!" Carla chimed, her voice filled with a mix of fear and hope.
Elena glanced at Haven for a moment, her expression softening into a light smile, filled with sisterly pride.
As they burst into a vast, spacious room, they were met with a sight that chilled their hearts—walls adorned with countless paintings that had been burned and destroyed, remnants of a once-majestic space now reduced to ash and ruin. Five mercenaries loomed within the room, their eyes darting toward the intruders, but fortune was on Elena and Haven's side; the door they needed to reach in order to access the stairs was not far from them. They actually have to go to two different types of stairs but this one was the closest.
Elena's focus sharpened as she turned to Haven. "Listen, sis, I need you to take the children and get them to safety. I will stay and fight," she declared, resolve tightening her voice.
Haven's expression shifted, a flicker of concern crossing her features. "Elena, no! Let me fight! I'm stronger—I can hold them back longer!"
Elena shook her head "I don't know how long I can keep on living with the young master dead, I know I should keep on living for his sake but it's so hard. These guys are going to get impatient and attack us". Elena then handed Carla to Haven; "take the child". she turned her back to Haven as she prepared to face the threat directly.
Haven hesitated for a moment but decided to respect her friend's decision "Please Elena, don't die"
"I will," Elena replied firmly. "Now go!"
In the room, five adversaries awaited them: two female mages and three swordsmen. One of the swordsmen wore special armor, giving him a menacing presence. Another, marked by his single ear, was determined not to allow Haven and the children to escape. With a sneer, he made his move. "I will not allow you to leave."
Haven had faith in Elena, she did not worry about the man who was about to attack them, her focus was to get through the door to exit the room and head to the stairs. The female wizard at the back also thought that it would be fun to kill the kids, she then used her staff to conjure a fireball attack. The fireball was still starting to grow on the tip of the staff.
"Close your eyes kids" Adam and Carla quickly obeyed, sealing their eyes shut as they huddled close to Haven, clinging to her for comfort.
Haven reached the door, relief flooding through her as she grasped the handle. However, the swordsman was mere steps away, his weapon unsheathed and poised to strike. Just as he lunged forward, intent on blocking her escape, Elena stepped into the fray, shielding her friend.
Before Haven could react, the swordsman plunged his blade straight through Elena's stomach "Hahaha! This is too easy!" the one-eared swordsman jeered, pushing the blade deeper into Elena, who gasped in pain. As her sword slipped from her grasp, crimson blood pooled and trickled from the wound, staining her clothing and the ground beneath her feet.
The female mage who conjured a flame ball on the tip of her staff was ready to release it "Vicks, let me barbeque that bitch" she cackled, anticipation sparking in her eyes.
Seizing the split-second moment, Haven darted through the door with the children, her heart racing as she refused to look back. A burning hope flickered within her; she had to believe Elena would find a way to survive this..
Adam and Carla both cried out to Elena "Don't die, Miss Elena!" cried Adam, his small voice laced with panic. "Defeat them all, Miss Elena! We believe in you!" Carla echoed, her fear giving way to fierce loyalty.
"Be safe, my sister," Haven whispered, the words heavy with unspoken worry.
The swordsman then grabbed Elena with his other arm and turned her to the direction where she could receive the attack from the female mage. The other two swordsmen and mage watched everything and was fairly entertained.
"Hold still now," the female mage commanded, her voice dripping with malice, as she released the fireball. It shot through the air, a furious projectile seeking to destroy everything in its path. The swordsman wore a wicked smile, relishing the thought of seeing the female vampire burn in agony.
Elena looked up and her eyes glowed red, she bared her fangs at the enemy. The female vampire lifted up her arms and slammed her hands directly on to the swordsman ear, blood squirted out, rapturing his eardrums. Further, the swordsman staggered back, stunned, leaving him vulnerable. Seizing the moment, Elena yanked the sword from her abdomen, ignoring the agony it caused her. With a swift movement, she turned the dazed swordsman around, positioning him between herself and the incoming fireball.
She then whispered in his ear "You know what? I like the smell of burned flesh. Oh, I forgot— you can't hear me."
Panic swept through the other swordsmen and the mages at the back. One of the swordsmen screamed for the female mage to retract her attack, but it was too late.
The fireball surged through the air, a swirling mass of orange and red, crackling with energy. The fire ball collided with the man, exploding on impact and engulfing him in a fierce blaze. The searing heat radiated outward, scorching the front of his body. The swordsman screams his lungs out as the flames licked at his clothing and devouring the fabric around him. The air was filled with an acrid scent of burning flesh, the swordsman's companions could not believe this sudden turn of event.
Elena's wound had already begun to close as the fallen swordsman hit the ground with a heavy thud, lifeless. "Come, humans, let us not waste any more time," she declared, gripping two swords tightly in her hands as she dashed towards the remaining combatants.
The two mages unleashed small fireballs toward her, but with a swift flick of her wrists, Elena used her swords to swat them away, sending the fiery projectiles harmlessly off course.
The other two swordsmen came through the air and delivered downwards slashes but Elena managed to block them both using the two swords in her hands. She felt the weight of their attacks; their swords made a small chip into her swords.
Seizing the opportunity amidst the chaos, one of the mages hurled a large block of ice toward her. It collided with her chest, knocking the wind out of her and sending the female vampire tumbling back. One of her swords flew from her grasp due to the impact.
Just as Elena had regained her footing, the other mage sent another block of ice hurtling in her direction. With reflexes honed by countless battles, she swiftly raised her sword, cleaving the incoming ice in half.
The two swordsmen seized the opportunity, attacking her simultaneously and she used her sword to parry each of their attack with fierce precision. Meanwhile, the two mages positioned themselves at the back, raising their staffs to shatter the remnants of the ice block she had just severed.
"Needle icicle"
The fragmented ice surged into the air, floating ominously before homing in on Elena like a flock of deadly missiles. The small icicle shards crashed against her from behind, piercing her flesh starting from the backs of her knees, raking up towards her spine. A sharp gasp escaped her lips as she gritted her teeth against the excruciating pain.
The momentary suffering left her vulnerable; one of the swordsmen capitalized on this, slashing at her with a diagonal blow that tore through her shoulder and waist, spattering blood across the floor. Yet, despite the agonizing sting of her wounds, Elena steeled herself, parrying the other swordsman's aggressive thrusts with unwavering determination.
"Blood step"
She activated her technique to evade both incoming slashes. As she shifted her weight, she launched a brutal kick into the swordsman on her right, connecting with devastating force. He flew backward, coughing up a mouthful of blood, his eyes wide with shock as he glanced helplessly toward one of the mages. "Heal me now!" he croaked.!"
The mage with red hair did what she was told as she casted a healing spell
"Nurse's touch"
As the healing magic began to mend his wounds, Elena sensed a significant pressure lift from her shoulder, renewing her focus on the remaining swordsman before her. The fierce glint of battle danced in her eyes as she awaited his next attack, carefully anticipating his movement. He was unaware that this was part of her plan.
He lunged forward again, sword raised high, but Elena met his strike with surgical precision, parrying his weapon with a quick motion. In a swift counter, she struck him with the pommel of her sword, knocking several of his teeth free in a single, impactful hit.
"You bitch". he snarled, staggering back, his humiliation stoking the flames of his rage
Just as Elena raised her sword, poised to lop his head off and end the threat in one fell swoop, a shimmering magic shield materialized before her, blocking her lethal strike from reaching its target. The swordsman with the missing teeth could not keep himself composed as his anger had reached an all-time high "Mages use your magic to make us stronger! I want this bitch dead!"
The two mages exchanged glances and nodded in unison; their expressions resolute. They closed their eyes, focusing intently as they began to cast their spells.
"A warrior's heart"
A vibrant yellow light enveloped the two swordsmen, infusing them with a surge of energy. Their strength surged, emboldening their resolve to overpower the female vampire before them. Without hesitation, they launched themselves at Elena, who braced for impact.
As before, Elena managed to parry both their attacks, but the effort came with great difficulty. The swordsman with the missing front teeth capitalized on a momentary lapse in her defence, delivering a swift kick to Elena's stomach. The force sent her flying back, and blood trickled from her mouth as she hurriedly wiped it away.
Her sword was full of chips and cracks as she stood up. The two swordsmen then ran straight to her and she readied herself but then they quickly spilt apart, she was confused, her head turned to the one on the left but she sensed that something was not right "What are they planning to do?"
Before she could react, she felt her body being violently launched from the ground, slamming into the wall behind her. A cold sensation gripped her abdomen as she looked down to find a massive icicle pinned her firmly to the wall. The chill surrounded her, and she felt the warmth of her blood trickling down from the gaping wound.
"Hahaha! How do you like them apples?" the swordsman with the missing teeth taunted, casually flicking his sword against his shoulder. "Let's just kill her already and go after the other one with the kids."
Elena's heart sank as she felt the energy draining from her body. Desperation surged inside her, fuelling her resolve. "There has to be something I can do to kill these bastards," she muttered, coughing up another mouthful of blood.
She then looked down at the bag around her waist, then a lightbulb flashed in her mind. She then reached inside the bag that was around her was and retrieved a vial that looks like water but the tag read "A warrior's rage". She popped the cork and poured the contents directly into her mouth. A mild burn coursed through her throat, but Elena welcomed the sensation—it was a sign that her strength was returning. She was desperate to stop them from following the others.
With a newfound ferocity, she tightened her fists and delivered a brutal punch to the long icicle spear that had pinned her against the wall. It shattered into pieces upon impact, freeing her with a rush of energy. As she pushed herself away from the jagged remnants, she felt the large wound in her abdomen begin to close at an astonishing rate.
The two swordsmen and the mages gaped in disbelief, their eyes wide with horror. "What is going on?" one of the mages stammered.
Elena's body was crackling with overwhelming power, the energy coursing through her veins like fire. "You all are dead," she declared with fierce conviction and bolted towards the group at full speed. The two mages hastily fired icicle spears in her direction, but she sidestepped them with ease, her agility unrestrained.
"Freeze the ground!" shouted the swordsman with the missing teeth, his voice rising in urgency.
The mages obeyed, conjuring a spell that carpeted the floor in layers of frost, aiming to hinder the vampire's movements. But Elena was ready; she propelled herself upward, launching off the wall and continuing her run along its surface.
"What the hell? Stop her!" the swordsman yelled, panic seeping into his voice.
In a desperate attempt to halt her advance, the mages unleashed fireball magic toward her, but Elena moved like a blur, dodging through the flames as she sprinted down the wall. With determined agility, she sprang off the wall, aiming directly for the female mage.
The other swordsman tried to close the distance, but it was far too late. The female mage frantically conjured a barrier of shimmering magic to protect herself, but Elena, fuelled by her newfound power, crashed through the barrier with ease, her sword plunging deep into the mage's throat.
Blood erupted from the woman's wound like a gushing tap as Elena withdrew her blade. Without skipping a beat, she turned her attention to the red-haired mage, sensing her vulnerability. But the mercenary with the missing teeth swiftly intercepted her movement, rage and desperation etched onto his features.
An evil grin spread across Elena's face as she channelled her power into a desperate throw. With her full strength, she hurled her sword like a projectile towards the swordsman. The blade sliced through the air at breakneck speed, embedding itself into his chest.
Elena dashed forward, and just as the man teetered backward in shock, she landed with her feet planted firmly on his chest. In one fluid motion, she pulled her sword free from his body and somersaulted over the second swordsman with the missing teeth, narrowly avoiding his frantic swing.
Ignoring him entirely, Elena zeroed in on the remaining mage, who was quaking with terror as she unleashed a volley of fireballs from her staff. "Stay away from me, you bitch!" the mage cried, desperation and fear evident in her voice.
Elena zigzagged through the flames, effortlessly dodging the fiery assaults. As she closed the distance, her sword found its mark, piercing the mage's chest. Blood dribbled from the woman's mouth, her eyes widening in disbelief.
The remaining swordsman dashed at her with full speed, a primal scream tearing from his throat. "Die!".
With a swift motion, Elena grabbed the sword still embedded in the female mage's chest, pulling it free as she kicked the lifeless body aside. The clang of metal rang sharply in the air as she turned her full attention to the threat before her.
As the swordsman closed the gap, Elena seized the dead body of the mage with one hand, a fierce determination burning in her eyes. Timing her strike perfectly, she slammed the corpse into the oncoming swordsman just as he lunged at her. The unexpected impact knocked him off balance, sending him crashing to the ground in a heap.
"No, how is this possible?". He looked up and Elena was standing over him "Please, spare me, I have a family" he pleaded, his voice trembling, desperation flooding his tone.
Elena stood over him, her expression devoid of emotion. "You already killed some of my family members," she said coldly, the pain of her losses evident in her voice. "So go to the afterlife and apologize.
"No!" he screamed, terror lacing his words as he realized this was the end. In one swift motion, she ended his life, her sword plunging down with decisive force. The room fell into a haunting silence, the echo of his last breath lingering in the air as she withdrew her blade, now stained with the blood of her foes.
She then ended his life and the room fell into a deathly silence. She turned her gaze toward the door through which the others had fled, the weight of her resolve pressing down on her. Her hand clenched into a fist, the power from the potion coursing through her, igniting her senses. "I have to kill as many of these bastards while the potion is still working," she whispered to herself, determination hardening her gaze.